Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsatha’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zalsatha’, characterized by its erect and strong flowering stems; vigorous growth habit; large white and light green-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZALSATHA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, commercially used as a cut flower Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zalsatha’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Alstroemeria plants with desirable flower and plant qualities, attractive and unique flower coloration and excellent postproduction longevity.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May, 2007 of a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 43143-3, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 39001-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in June, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands since September, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zalsatha’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zalsatha’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Erect and strong flowering stems.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Large white and light green-colored flowers.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have pure white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have pure white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Virginia’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,331. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed primarily from plants of ‘Virginia’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were shorter than plants of         ‘Virginia’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had longer leaves than plants         of ‘Virginia’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had larger flowers than plants         of ‘Virginia’.     -   4. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Virginia’ differed         slightly in flower color as flowers of plants of ‘Virginia’ were         white and light yellow in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Zalsatha’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the summer and early autumn in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 15° C., soil temperatures averaged 15° C. and light levels averaged 5,000 lux. Plants were one year old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zalsatha’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 43143-3, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida             selection identified as code number 39001-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro rhizogenesis.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days             at temperatures of 16° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days             at temperatures of 16° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; color, close to             155D.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.         -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to             30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.             Color: Close to 155D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright; freely branching, bushy             appearance; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 120 cm to 140 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 25 cm. -   Flowering stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Erect.         -   Length.—About 100 cm to 120 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 9 mm to 12 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 5 cm to 13 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Appearance.—Leaves asymmetrical, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 19.2 cm to 22.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm to 3.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; weakly undulate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 147A; venation, close to 144B. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to N137C; venation,             close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face mostly outwardly; perianth             segments separate; freely flowering habit, about 15 to 40             flower buds and open flowers developing per flowering stem.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous during the             spring and early summer in The Netherlands; plants begin             flowering about 80 to 90 days after planting.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity.—About four weeks on the plant and about 20             to 25 days as a cut flower; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds (showing color).—Length: About 6 cm to 6.5 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly ovoid. Color:             Close to 144B.         -   Umbel height.—About 19 cm to 24 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 19.5 cm to 23 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 7.5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Inner             perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6.8 cm to 7.1 cm.             Width: About 2.1 cm to 2.3 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:             Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Shallowly serrate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             when opening, upper and lower surfaces: Towards the apex,             close to NN155C; center and towards the base, close to             NN155A. Color, fully opened, upper surface: Towards the             apex, close to NN155C; center and towards the base, close to             NN155A and 148B. Color, fully opened, lower surface: Towards             the apex, close to NN155C; center and towards the base,             close to NN155A and 144C. Inner perianth, median segment:             Length: About 5.5 cm to 5.9 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm to             2.3 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Cuspidate. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Shallowly serrate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, when opening, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to NN155C. Color, fully opened,             upper surface: Close to NN155C and 148B. Color, fully             opened, lower surface: Close to NN155C and 144C. Outer             perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6.5 cm to 7 cm.             Width: About 3.4 cm to 3.7 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Embedded point. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Shallowly serrate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the             margins, close to NN155C; center, close to 143A. Color, when             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Towards the             margins, close to NN155C; center, close to 143A. Outer             perianth, median segment: Length: About 7 cm to 7.7 cm.             Width: About 3.5 cm to 3.8 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Embedded point. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Shallowly serrate.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Towards the             margins, close to NN155C; center, close to 143A. Color, when             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Towards the             margins, close to NN155C; center, close to 143A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm to 14.5 cm. Diameter: About 2             mm to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 20° from             vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146B and 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: About 7 mm to 8 mm.             Anther color: Close to 199B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 203C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Style length: About 2.8 cm to 3.2 cm. Style color: Close to             150D. Stigma color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to             146B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zalsatha’ as illustrated and described. 